Medical cannabis in Maryland could be available to patients as early as this month, according to industry stakeholders.

“I think we could see product in November, with increase in December and a steady flow from all operators in the new year,” Wendy Bronfein, the marketing director for Curio Wellness, a company in Lutherville, Maryland, said.

In addition, some lawmakers said they are planning to introduce a bill to grant licenses specifically to African-American business owners.

A recent disparity study was carried out to ensure opportunities for minority participation, after the Maryland Legislative Black Caucus raised concerns about the lack of African-American involvement in the cannabis industry.

According to the Maryland Medical Cannabis Commission, of the 321 business owners who were granted medical cannabis licenses, 208 were white men or women and the remaining 113 identified as a member of a minority group or as multiracial. Of these, 55 were black men and women.

“It’s shameful in a state like Maryland where we have one-third of the population of the state, one-third is African American,” said Delegate Cheryl Glenn, D-Baltimore, chairwoman of the Legislative Black Caucus.

Members of the Black Caucus have now begun drafting a bill that would award 10 new licenses for African-American growers and processors.

“I will bank on it that we’ll come away from the table with five new licenses for growers and five new licenses for processors that will be awarded based on the results of the disparity group. What does that mean? That means these licenses will go to, in large part, African Americans,” Glenn said.